Elements and Performance Criteria
- Follow biosecurity and infection control guidelines
- Apply standard biosecurity and infection control precautions in all aspects of work
- Apply additional, including transmission-based, precautions when standard precautions alone may not be sufficient to prevent transmission of infection
- Follow workplace reporting and documentation requirements related to infection control procedures
- Recognise signs of abnormal health and disease in animals
- Identify signs of ill health or abnormal condition in animals that may indicate disease
- Recognise signs of potential infectious diseases in animals
- Maintain knowledge of main zoonoses and emerging contagious diseases relevant to animal care sector
- Report signs of ill health, including potential infectious and/or zoonotic disease, to supervisor and/or seek veterinarian advice according to workplace procedures
- Complete workplace records and follow procedures for reporting a notifiable disease to relevant personnel
- Identify and respond to infection risks
- Identify infection risks and report according to workplace procedures
- Implement specific risk response according to workplace procedures
- Follow workplace protocols for care following cuts, injury or exposure to bodily fluids and excrement
- Remove biological spills following workplace procedures
- Report infection control accidents/incidents and action risk control procedures
- Maintain personal protection
- Maintain personal vaccinations/immunisations according to workplace requirements
- Maintain hand hygiene before and after animal contact and any activity likely to cause cross-contamination
- Implement hand care in line with workplace procedures
- Select, fit and use personal protective equipment and contamination prevention clothing according to workplace requirements
- Prevent spread of potential pathogens
- Demarcate and maintain clean and contaminated zones in all aspects of animal care work
- Follow demarcation procedures involving the movement of animals within or between facilities
- Isolate animals identified or suspected of presenting with a contagious or zoonotic disease and seek veterinary advice
- Clean, disinfect and/or sterilise work surfaces, materials, equipment and instruments
- Handle and process soiled laundry and protective clothing according to workplace procedures
- Identify hazards to animal and human health from food sources and implement methods used to manage potential risks
- Follow workplace rodent and vector control procedures
- Handle and dispose of biological and general waste according to environmental and workplace requirements
- Provide animal care facility clients/customers with information regarding biosecurity and infection control, including risks of zoonoses
- Contribute to incursion readiness processes
- Maintain infectious disease control kit for responding to infectious disease outbreaks and suspected outbreaks
- Make contributions to the review and revision of the workplace biosecurity and infection control plan
- Update and maintain biosecurity and infection control documentation according to workplace policies and procedures